A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the City of Des Plaines Finance Department on October 31, 2024. The request was made by North Cook News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we sought access to records detailing the city's sales tax collection from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. Specifically, we asked for a list of businesses that paid sales tax to the city during this period. The requested information includes each business's name and type as well as the amount of sales tax it paid.
Additionally, we requested the total amount of sales tax that the city collected within the same timeframe. This information is vital in our efforts to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to our readers.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we emphasized our eligibility for a fee waiver for this request under Illinois law. We firmly believe that access to public records is essential in fulfilling our professional responsibilities and ensuring government transparency.
We await a response from the City of Des Plaines Finance Department regarding this request.
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